Video: Everything Channel's Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders Program Brought Teens Seeking IT Careers Together with the Solution Provider Community to Learn, Network and Become Microsoft Certified

Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders Program Took Place at XChange '09

PRNewswire
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.
UBM.L
Aug 27, 2009

 

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, Everything Channel, a division of United Business Media, hosted the Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program, which sponsored 20 teens, aged 15-18, from Iowa, North Carolina, New York, Maryland and Washington, DC seeking careers in information technology (IT). Sponsored exclusively by Microsoft, the program enabled teens to participate in Microsoft training and certification courses and network with the Solution Provider community. The Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program took place as part of XChange '09 from August 17-20 at the Gaylord National Hotel in Washington, DC.

 

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/everythingchannel/36495/

 

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090827/NY67040)

 

Everything Channel partnered with The Framsyn Initiative, a community based training program that provides training and certification to teens seeking careers as IT professionals, and NY-based Solution Provider, Dicyn Solutions to create the Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program.

 

On Sunday, August 16, Howard Burnett, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health and Human Services of Prince George's County, MD; Nancy Hammervik, SVP/Managing Director, Everything Channel Events; Dino White, President and CEO of Dicyn Solutions and Chairman of The Framsyn Initiative; Eric Martorano, Director of Channel Strategy, Incentives & Partner Marketing at Microsoft; and Sonja Williams, Program Director, Channel Events, Everything Channel participated at an event welcoming the students to the Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program.

 

"On behalf of Prince George's County, I would like to thank Everything Channel, The Framsyn Initiative, Dicyn Solutions and Microsoft for investing in our children. Corporate support of public education is key to educating our students. The Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program gives these students valuable training, networking opportunity and life-long enrichment," said Burnett.

 

Students from the following schools participated in the Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program: Queens Grant Preparatory High, Mint Hill, NC; East Mecklenburg High, Charlotte, NC; Southwest Onslow High, Jacksonville, NC; Junius H Rose High, Greenville, NC; Charles Herbert Flowers High, Sprindgale, MD; Henry F Wise High, Upper Marlboro, MD; Bard High School Early College, NY, NY; Pikesville High, Pikeville, MD; Tall Oaks High, Bowie, MD; Largo High, Largo, MD; Eleanor Roosevelt High, Greenbelt, MD; Don Bosco Cristo Rey High, Takoma Park, MD; Earnest E Just, Jr. High, Upper Marlboro, MD; and Friendship Collegiate Academy, Washington, DC.

 

Each teen left the program having begun the 70-282 Microsoft Small Business Specialist exam as well as additional Microsoft trainings. In addition to the certification, the students had the opportunity to experience a leading technology industry event, the Everything Channel XChange '09 conference, the largest channel event of the year, which attracted over 1,000 attendees. The four-day event brought together over 250 qualified Solution Providers and leading industry vendors in diverse technology areas. Additionally, the students were involved in a system build with technology from Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Eastern Data, Ranvest Associates, Graymar, Systemax, GST and Advanced Concepts, which was conducted by XChange Board Member, Bob Nitrio, President, Ranvest Associates. At the end of the program all of the technology vendors donated the technology to the students.

 

In addition, each student was assigned a mentor when they arrived at the event. The mentors provided information about the event and IT careers. Mentors included: Robert Mackenzie, RM Compufix; Jane Cage, Heartland Technologies; Anvar Alfi, Alfi Computers; Richard Eckhardt, Systemax; Josh Smith, Biohazard Computers; Peter Illari, Accelbus; Cami Parks, Eastern Data; Patrick McNicholas, Maverick Computers; Don Allison, Media 2 Play; Nick Lebedeff, Cygnus USA; Andrew Sampson, Sampson & Associates; Andrew Heitner, Comm-Works; and George Gould, TOGG.

 

On Tuesday, August 18, during the Microsoft keynote entitled "Harness the Power," Eric Martorano presented each of the students with a certificate for their participation at the Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program.

 

"The Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program was a fantastic experience for the students as well as the conference attendees. We were thrilled to offer this learning environment to these students as they prepare for future careers in IT," said Hammervik. "Everything Channel and our parent company, United Business Media, are strong supporters of the local community and we were very pleased to host this program and help make a difference in the lives of teenagers looking to work in the field of IT. Additionally, the nonprofit angle as a part of the XChange events has resonated with event sponsors. Our sponsors are showcasing their technologies to the IT community as well as volunteering their time and assisting these nonprofits to help make a difference in the local communities."

 

"Microsoft is proud to have been the title sponsor for the Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program," said Martorano. "It was inspiring and motivational to see how investing in our youth, through this innovative program, encouraged these young adults to further their technology career aspirations. At Microsoft, we are dedicated and committed to technology advancement and the unlimited potential it brings to all people."

 

White added, "It was an unbelievable experience to work with Everything Channel in putting together this event, sponsored by Microsoft, in support of these amazing young men and women. What they take from their attendance here will be the glue that will bind them together and make career memories that will last a lifetime."

 

Additionally, the Intel Channel Organization donated components and provided support to the Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program.

 

In addition to the Channel@Work: Future Tech Leaders program, Everything Channel's XChange event has partnered with the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, Dress For Success as well as local food shelters to support local communities in need.

 

For additional information about XChange '09, visit: http://www.everythingchannelevents.com/xchange09.

 

About Everything Channel (www.everythingchannel.com, www.channelweb.com)

Everything Channel is the one-stop shop for managing and accelerating technology sales. From branding and recruiting to marketing and sales, Everything Channel offers technology marketers the unmatched breadth and depth of global brands and market intelligence combined with unparalleled audience loyalty and credibility serving all technology sales channels through an extensive database. Everything Channel provides innovative field sales and marketing solutions to arm the sellers of technology with the resources they need to achieve measurable and significant results.

 

About United Business Media Limited (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com)

 

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists - with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

 

SOURCE Everything Channel

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Web Site: http://www.everythingchannel.com